Research on Pathophysiology and Treatment in Depression Using Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Amyloid Neuroimaging

Recently the investigators reported the association between childhood trauma and refractory depression, which related to Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF). Even though level of peripheral BDNF is closely related to depression treatment, the investigators still have little idea on role of BDNF. In this research, the investigators are going to find the genetic variation affecting treatment response and process, figure out specific role of BDNF in depressive patient correlated with Neuroimaging. Along with BDNF, many kinds of proinflammatory cytokine showed increased amount related to depressive patient. Leptin, adiponectin, and plasma tryptohphan are also seen to be related to response of depression. Here, the investigators are trying to see specific difference on neuroimaging shown in depressive patient related to peripheral marker. The investigators will evaluate the 36 depressive patients compared to 24 normal control. For depressive patients, after excluding other bipolar spectrum disorder, psychotic disorder, other neurocognitive disorder, subjects who have organic brain lesion, tested as HAM D score above 16, will be included in this research. As a psychiatric evaluation, the investigators will do the MINI International Psychiatric Interview Plus (MINI Plus), Suicidal ideation evaluation, Hamilton Depression Inventory 17 (HAM D 17), Hamilton Anxiety Inventory (HAM A) to get the information of their clinical severity. As a neuroimaging evaluation, the investigators will do the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with diffusion tensor imaging and amyloid Positron Emission Tomography(PET) to see the specific deposition. For peripheral marker for inflammation and other neurotrophic factor, the investigators will do the platelet BDNF level,and other pre-inflammatory factors. The investigators will also check for genotyping for BDNF. For follow up evaluation, the investigators will keep up the psychiatric evaluation with HAM D, HAM A and peripheral proteinomic evaluation with platelet BDNF level, and other pro-inflammatory cytokines. This research will figure out the correlation between neurotrophic factor as BDNF, and inflammatory factor seen in peripheral blood assay with treatment response in depression. Also the investigators are trying to integrate the peripheral change along with BDNF genotyping and specific change seen in neuroimaging. Replicating this research with high statistical power would be promising to find 'reliable peripheral marker for prognosis of depression'.